Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency: Medical Supply Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3 section A paragraph 3j this part.
• Experience: Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicants ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work; or
• Education: One year above high school that included at least 6 semester hours in health care related courses such as sterile processing nursing assistant hospital corpsman and operating room and surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position; or
• Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.
• Certification. None.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grandfathering Provision. All MSTs that are employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title series and grade held that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it the following provisions apply:

• Employees grandfathered into the GS-622 occupational series as MSTs may be reassigned promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation.
• MSTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
• MSTs who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Foreign Education. To be creditable education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U. S. programs.

Grade Determinations: GS-08 Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. This experience may include but is not limited to: Distribute and prioritize workload among employees in accordance with established workflow and/or job specializations. Assure an even workflow and distribution of the workload. Revise work schedules to meet anticipated and unanticipated changes in the workload. Assign work to staff based on experience and training needs. Monitor and report on the status of work. Ensure SOPs and SPS mandates are followed during the performance of workflow. Review work in progress or spot check work not requiring review to ensure completed work meets supervisors instructions on such things as work sequence procedures methods and deadlines. Assess the quality and quantity of work by reviewing the cleaning reprocessing and distribution of technical medical equipment material and instrumentation. Provide information to management officials concerning performance issues assignment changes and task completion. Instruct employees on work-related activities policies procedures and goals.

Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Ability to manage interact and deal with individuals of varying backgrounds.
2. Ability to direct staff and manage tasks to be completed.
3. Ability to oversee and supervise all aspects of decontamination preparation sterilization monitoring and distribution of RME.
4. Ability to perform a full range of supervisory duties including assigning planning and evaluating work recommending awards approving leave identifying training needs and resolving staff issues.

Assignment. The Supervisory MST functions as a first-level supervisor responsible for the oversight of a group of MSTs with administrative responsibility for planning and directing the work. Oversees attendance and leave including approval of sick and annual leave and vacation schedules. Informs higher level management of anticipated vacancies or increases in workload. Recommends promotions reassignments recognition of superior performance retention or release of probationary employees or other changes of assigned personnel. Holds corrective interviews with employees referring disciplinary problems to higher levels of management. Resolves informal complaints of employees and deals with union representatives on personnel matters. Provides technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the organizational unit.

Preferred Experience: Leadership experience preferred. National Certification Preferred

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-8.

Physical Requirements: This work is performed in various settings: decontamination preparation clean sterile supply (preparation) gastrointestinal intestinal endoscope reprocessing hub and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus. The incumbent may be required to work in areas that are hot cold drafty and poorly lighted. The work requires proper body mechanics when standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of packages/instrument trays (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds). The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating disassembly and assembly of instrumentation.

On a regular and recurring basis the employee alternates between a contaminated environment and a carefully controlled clean environment. The employee wears special clothing hair covers personal protective equipment and shoe covers that can be uncomfortably warm. The employee uses insulated gloves to remove carts from sterilizers. The employee is subject to burns from accidentally touching hot items. The hazards of working around minute quantities of sterilizing gasses are unknown. The employee often works around body fluids mucous excretions and bits of tissue some of which may be foul smelling. Strong unpleasant odors are encountered while decontaminating bloody or grossly contaminated instrumentation or reusable medical equipment. The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments rumbling of carts and operation of pre-sterilizing equipment. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019